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March 2, 2015

A Generous New Clue and Traveling Bears: Epilogue (at least for now ...)

Our last two posts about the possible identity of Jane Biddle and the Craig and Biddle families were greatly enhanced by the information and images posted on The Craig Family Public Tree on ancestry.com. The owner of the family tree is the Reverend Jonathan M. Craig who found our postings while searching the Internet and wrote to tell us that he enjoyed them and was glad his work was useful to us. Not only that, he generously forwarded something he thought might help to determine whether or not Jane Josephine Sarmiento Biddle was the Jane Biddle represented by the inscription on the c. 1844 quilt block used to cover one of the bears. That something was two examples of the signature of Jane Josephine Biddle, one written in 1853 and the other in 1856.

Signature written in 1853. Courtesy of the Reverend Jonathan M. Craig.

Signature written in 1856. Courtesy of the Reverend Jonathan M. Craig.

When we compared these two signatures with the inscription on the Biddle bear, we detected similarities as well as many differences. Interestingly, upon looking more closely, we noticed the rendering of the capital "B" on the Biddle block is unlike either of the two examples above but does seem to match the capital "B" found in the inscription of Harriet H. Bispham's name on one of the other bears. This may indicate that all three bear inscriptions were written by a single hand rather than by the people named. Since handwriting analysis is not our area of expertise, we welcome comments from our readers.

Signature photographs by Mary Holton Robare.

While we were pondering the new evidence of the signatures via email correspondence, the bears themselves were spending time in Winchester, Virginia, getting "up close and personal" with Mary.

A package from California had arrived at Mary's house several weeks before.

Although Mary knew what it contained, she could not contain her curiosity about the wrapped objects inside.

She removed the tissue enclosing the bears and one by one she met, for the first time, the three little bears whose tummy inscriptions had been providing us with the research opportunity to develop our recent posts. These bears introduced themselves as:

Abigail R. Clement;

Harriet H. Bispham; and,

Jane Biddle.

The bears all enjoyed stretching their legs after their long journey to Virginia via UPS. But then they spotted Stranger Danger!! and certainly didn't need to experience more wear and fabric tears than already caused by age.

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Immediate precautions had to be taken and the little bears were whisked back into their box and sent high aloft a bookshelf in Mary's office.

After the danger passed, the little bears settled in as guests in a cradle bedded with a quilt, both made by Mary's great-great (non-Quaker) grandparents. There, they awaited the research being conducted by Lynda across the country in California.

We both know many people who would wring their hands about any quilt being cut up, but the delight brought by these three little bears - and all the stories we have been able to tell on their behalf - is appreciated, as is the person who did not toss out an old, c. 1844, used-up quilt. At least a portion of it was used to good purpose to raise funds for the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society on Long Island that assuredly deserves support. Our thanks to Joan DeMeo Lager and Peggy Podstupka of the Society for their support and for finding the third bear to add to our "data base".

Tomorrow the little bears will travel back to California where the research they've inspired will undoubtedly continue. How can we resist?! As they make their way from snow-packed northern Virginia to the warm and sunny wine country of California, please remember to support your local historical societies. They need you and we need them.

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Ann Hanna Hambleton

Ann was the mother-in-law of Philena Cooper Hambleton, the subject of Philena's Friendship Quilt: A Quaker Farewell to Ohio, and the great-aunt of Senator Marcus Hanna of Ohio.

American Quilt Study Group

Do you know about the American Quilt Study Group (AQSG)? If not, you should. The purpose of this non-profit organization is to establish, sustain, and promote the highest standards for quilt related studies, to encourage these studies, and to provide opportunities to disseminate the work of both academic and non-academic researchers. Membership in the AQSG entitles one to receive Uncoverings, an annual journal of the research papers presented at AQSG's yearly Seminar, and a quarterly publication titled Blanket Statements containing research papers, notes and queries, as well as AQSG and quilt world news. In addition, an annual directory is provided that lists the names, contact information, and interests of current AQSG members--a valuable networking resource that gives access to approximately 950 fellow quilt enthusiasts. Click on the quilt block above to visit AQSG's web site and learn how to become a member. The site also provides information about the organization's annual Seminar, its publication opportunities, its Quilt Study program, and the Technical Guides and other publications available to members and the general public. AQSG is also on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Quilt-Study-Group/149056808116.

Quaker Quilts: Snapshots from an Exhibition

This pamphlet by Mary Holton Robare contains photographic and informational snapshots of quilts that were displayed in a three-day exhibit of Quaker Quilts held at Abram's Delight Museum in Winchester, Virginia, in 2014. The exhibit featured twenty-six quilts made between ca. 1840 and 2007. Click on the image to learn more about it.

Quilts and Quaker Heritage

Mary Holton Robare's book on selected quilts from an exhibition at the Virginia Quilt Museum in 2008. Click on the book to order and search by title.

Philena's Friendship Quilt: A Quaker Farewell to Ohio

In this 4th publication of the Ohio Quilt Series published by Ohio University Press, Lynda Salter Chenoweth presents the story of Philena Cooper Hambleton and the quilt made for her in Ohio in 1853 to take with her when she migrated to Iowa. To order, click on the book and then search by title.

Neighbors and Friends: Quakers in Community

Lynda Salter Chenoweth's second book based on her research into Philena's quilt tells the stories of those whose names appear on the quilt and places their lives in context. To order, click on the book and then search by title.

When This You See Remember Me

Also of interest by Mary Holton Robare. Schoolgirl Samplers of Winchester and Frederick County, Virginia. To order, click on the book, click "Store", then "Softcover Books" and search on title.

Followers

Copyright

(c) 2011-2017 Lynda Salter Chenoweth and Mary Holton Robare. Absolutely no reproduction or distribution permitted beyond one copy for personal study. For additional permissions regarding text please e-mail lchen@saber.net. All images are reproduced with permission of copyright holders. Any commercial or online use is strictly forbidden.

Lynda Salter Chenoweth

Mary Holton Robare

About Us

Lynda and Mary are quilt historians experienced in researching and publishing information about quilts made by members of the Religious Society of Friends. Their particular interest is in 19th century inscribed quilts that document Quaker families and their communities.
Lynda lives in Sonoma,California, and is a writer, a quilter, a researcher, and a member of the Board of the American Quilt Study Group. Mary lives in Winchester, Virginia, and is a writer, a researcher, and a choreographer and dance instructor.